A stay in Paradou offers a range of ways to explore: a historic walking route, a signposted circular hike, protected habitats and individual heritage sites. The specific route details help you plan your time; the themes can also be planned separately.
Historic Walking Route and Hike
The historic walking route through Paradou includes 15 numbered information panels. Three additional points lie outside the main route. This distinction is useful for finding your way: the three points belong to the walking route, but are not part of its numbered main course. You can therefore follow the route using the panels and consider the additional points separately.
The “Défends de Sousteyran” circular hike is 11.2 kilometres long and is listed as taking 3.5 hours. It starts and ends at the Parking des écoles in Paradou. Along the way, it leads to the Rochers de la Pène and the Tours de Castillon located there; it also offers views of the southern foothills of the Alpilles. The route length, duration, start and finish provide a concrete framework for planning your day. Allow extra time for travel, breaks and the length of your stay.
The hike is accessible by public transport via ZOU! bus line 702 to the “Les Plouvinons” stop. As this information relates to the specific hike, check the line’s timetable before travelling. This lets you include the journey to the hike in your day’s plans without conflating it with the stated duration.
Nature and Water Landscapes
The Ilon Regional Nature Reserve covers 176 hectares and extends across the municipalities of Paradou and Arles. Its habitats include marshland, old-growth forests and Coussouls de Crau. The different landscape types give the reserve a focus distinct from the views of the southern foothills of the Alpilles along the circular hike.
Another perspective on the landscape is offered by the Canal de la vallée des Baux. Since 3 July 1914, it has run along the southern foothills of the Alpilles. Several canal bridges were built in the municipalities of Maussane-les-Alpilles and Paradou. Both the canal’s course and its bridges are therefore defining aspects of the area’s water infrastructure.
History and Cultural Heritage
The Castillon site became a strategic location in the 11th century under the Lords of Les Baux: it served to defend their territory and monitor the routes. The Tours de Castillon also carry this place name into the hiking landscape; they lie in the Rochers de la Pène, which the circular hike leads to. This allows you to consider Castillon’s historical significance alongside the hike’s specific destinations.
La Croix des Clapiers is a historic religious heritage site and wayside cross in Paradou. It was erected in 1660. A text from 981 also mentions the Church of Saint-Martin-en-Félaurie in Paradou. These two dates represent different historical reference points: one concerns the erection of the wayside cross, the other a written mention of the church.
A specific event in Paradou is also dated: the second edition of the Transhumance, held there in 2024, included folk dancing. This offers a glimpse of an event at the time, while the wayside cross and the historical reference to the church remain enduring themes in the cultural heritage described here.
A Provençal Miniature World
La Petite Provence du Paradou features nearly 400 santons in a 500 m² miniature village of Provence. The focus shifts from landscapes and historic sites to a miniature depiction of Provence. When choosing what to explore during your stay, you can compare this with the other themes: hiking and nature take you outdoors, while the santons offer a distinct cultural perspective on the region.
Discover more destinations: Luynes, Grans, Vitrolles, Istres, Vauvenargues, Pont De Crau Arles, Venelles, Bouc-Bel-Air.
Go to the main travel overview: Bouches Du Rhone.
